The second annual Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon drew 900 runners Sunday from across North America.

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The top male runner Meshack Kirwaran ran at a pace averaging a 4:51 minute mile.

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One of the the Raramuri Runners near Tesuque Market.

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Atalelech Asfaw breaking the tape.

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Billy Mills, 10k Olympic Gold Medalist.

The USATF-certified race started at 8 a.m. in downtown Santa Fe and ended in the Rio Grande Valley at the Pueblo of Pojoaque’s Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino. The race gave athletes the opportunity to test their fitness and endurance at high altitude.

The Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon course was fast and scenic, dropping over 1,300 feet after a gradual climb for the first two miles. The top male runner Meshack Kirwaran 4:51 minute mile and the top female runners including Atalelech Asfawand and Alvina Begay were at 5:34 and 5:37 per mile.

Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills started the race. Steve “King of the Mountain” Gachupin, double U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, Nike N7 Ambassador Alvina Begay and World Record Steeplechaser Peter Koech attended and participated in the weekend events. The Rarámuri (Tarahumara) Indians from Copper Canyon, Mexico, were in for the race as well. The Rarámuri are famed for their running-based culture, as recently portrayed in the best-selling book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall.

Global Running Culture, a nonprofit organization formed by elite distance runners Abraham Kosgei, Joseph Karnes and Antonio Lopez, created Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon. They came together to promote youth fitness, nutrition and health through participation in the sport of running.

The race is the group's primary fundraiser. Partnering with Whole Foods Market, Global Running Culture established the Fitness, Food & Fun Program at the Santa Fe Boys & Girls Clubs. This monthly program provides Club members with the opportunity to run with elite athletes, learn about healthy nutrition and enjoy healthy snacks.

“We want to inspire the next generation by the power of sport,” says 2000 Kenyan Olympic Team selection Abraham Kosgei. “For every child, regular physical activity and good nutrition are keys to success in life.”

There were 710 runners in the 2011 Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon and 900 this year.

Following his come-from-behind victory in the 1964 Olympic 10,000 meter race in Tokyo and a world-record-setting career, Billy Mills has devoted his life to enhancing opportunities for young people. His foundation, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, implements his vision, and his worldwide appearances inspire people of all ages to make the most of their lives.

“Each of us is unique,” says Mills, “and we should appreciate the opportunities we have and make the most of them.” Mills is attending the race in support of Global Running Culture’s mission to promote youth fitness and health through healthy nutrition and participation in sport.

Nike N7 dry-fit t-shirts, handmade age-group awards made by Pueblo artists, unique finisher’s medals, a pasta dinner at Buffalo Thunder and live music along the course, combined with Santa Fe’s natural beauty and cultural amenities, made today’s race fun for all.

Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon weekend events included a talk by Billy Mills, the Race Expo, a Kids Run and the Pasta Dinner Saturday. The Santa Fe to Buffalo Thunder Half Marathon, 5K and 1 mile walk all started Sunday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., followed by awards and entertainment at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino.